Baidu may launch Internet search services in Brazil in 2014

The company opened a field office in São Paulo two weeks ago and currently employs 15 people at that facility, according to the reports.

Most of the firm's local employees are engineers who are currently conducting market research to find out about the habits and preferences of Brazilian internet users.

"Brazil has 100mn internet users and according to forecasts, this will rise to 140mn in two years. There is growth in other countries too, but not at this level. This is why we see a huge opportunity in the Brazilian market," Baidu Brasil's marketing manager Felipe Zmoginski was quoted as saying.

The company has already launched its Hao 123 portal, which is oriented at internet beginners.